OIL AND GAS CONCESSIONS (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Analysis of cost of oil and gas concessions [Abstract]
Oil and gas concessions	$ 5,013,730	$ 4,620,531
Surface fees per square kilometer per annum [Abstract]
Initial Exploration Term (in dollars per per square kilometer per annum)	5.00
First Additional Exploration Period (in dollars per per square kilometer per annum)	10.00
Second Additional Exploration Period (in dollars per per square kilometer per annum)	15.00
Development and Production Periods (in dollars per per square kilometer per annum)	100.00
JDZ 2 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	30.00%
ERHC Joint Bid Participating Interest (in hundredths)	35.00%
Participating Interest(s) Sold (in hundredths)	43.00%
Current ERHC Retained Participating Interest (in hundredths)	22.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	0
JDZ 2 [Member] \| Sinopec [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
Allocation of cost oil to the company (in hundredths)	100.00%
Allocation profit recoverable by joint interest participant (in hundredths)	50.00%
Carried cost recoverable by well operators (in hundredths)	100.00%
JDZ 3 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	20.00%
ERHC Joint Bid Participating Interest (in hundredths)	5.00%
Participating Interest(s) Sold (in hundredths)	15.00%
Current ERHC Retained Participating Interest (in hundredths)	10.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	0
JDZ 3 [Member] \| Addax [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
Allocation of cost oil to the company (in hundredths)	100.00%
Allocation profit recoverable by joint interest participant (in hundredths)	50.00%
Carried cost recoverable by well operators (in hundredths)	100.00%
JDZ 4 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	25.00%
ERHC Joint Bid Participating Interest (in hundredths)	35.00%
Participating Interest(s) Sold (in hundredths)	40.50%
Current ERHC Retained Participating Interest (in hundredths)	19.50%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	0
JDZ 5 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	15.00%
ERHC Joint Bid Participating Interest (in hundredths)	0.00%
Participating Interest(s) Sold (in hundredths)	0.00%
Current ERHC Retained Participating Interest (in hundredths)	15.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	567,900
JDZ 6 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	15.00%
ERHC Joint Bid Participating Interest (in hundredths)	0.00%
Participating Interest(s) Sold (in hundredths)	0.00%
Current ERHC Retained Participating Interest (in hundredths)	15.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	567,900
JDZ 9 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	20.00%
ERHC Joint Bid Participating Interest (in hundredths)	0.00%
Participating Interest(s) Sold (in hundredths)	0.00%
Current ERHC Retained Participating Interest (in hundredths)	20.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	567,900
EEZ 4 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	100.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	567,900
EEZ 11 [Member]
Current rights [Line Items]
ERHC Original Participating Interest (in hundredths)	100.00%
Remaining Cost Allocated to Blocks	567,900
DRSTP Concession [Member]
Analysis of cost of oil and gas concessions [Abstract]
Oil and gas concessions	2,840,700	2,839,500
Republic Chad Concession Fees and Other Financial Commitments [Abstract]
Right to receive working interest signature free bonus (in hundredths)	100.00%
Option to acquire paid working interest (in hundredths)	15.00%
Chad Concession [Member]
Analysis of cost of oil and gas concessions [Abstract]
Oil and gas concessions	1,792,600	1,760,000
Republic Chad Concession Fees and Other Financial Commitments [Abstract]
Signature bonus commitment paid or incurred	1,000,000
Signature bonus commitment	6,000,000
Signature bonus commitment outstanding	5,000,000
Legal Fees	480,000
Professional Fees	312,600
Future commitment to spend under the minimum work program , next five years, Minimum	15,000,000
Future commitment to spend under the minimum work program , additional three years, Minimum	1,000,000
Kenya concession [Member]
Analysis of cost of oil and gas concessions [Abstract]
Oil and gas concessions	310,000	0
Republic Chad Concession Fees and Other Financial Commitments [Abstract]
Signature bonus commitment	310,000
Future commitment to spend under the minimum work program , next five years, Minimum	10,250,000
Future commitment to spend under the minimum work program , additional three years, Minimum	60,000,000
Pending Concessions in other African Countries [Member]
Analysis of cost of oil and gas concessions [Abstract]
Oil and gas concessions	$ 70,430	$ 21,031

The allocation of cost oil to the company for petroleum operations.

No definition available.

Name:	erhe_AllocationOfCostOilToCompany
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum allocation profit oil from the retained interests on individual blocks until full recovery of the company's carried cost.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_AllocationProfitOilFromRetainedInterestsOnIndividualBlocksMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	erhe_AnalysisOfCostOfOilAndGasConcessionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum recoverable carried costs of the company by the well operators.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_CarriedCostRecoverableByWellOperatorsMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The current participating interest retained in blocks as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_CurrentErhcRetainedParticipatingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of development and production periods related to surface fees commitment to pay (per square kilometer per annum).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_DevelopmentAndProductionPeriods
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The joint bid participating interest retained in blocks during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_ErhcJointBidParticipatingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The original participating interest in the block as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_ErhcOriginalParticipatingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of first additional exploration period related to surface fees commitment to pay (per square kilometer per annum).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_FirstAdditionalExplorationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The commitment to spend under the minimum work program over additional three years after the expiration of the initial commitment as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_FutureCommitmentToSpendUnderMinimumWorkProgramAdditionalThreeYearsMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The commitment to spend under the minimum work program over the next five years as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_FutureCommitmentToSpendUnderMinimumWorkProgramNextFiveYearsMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of initial exploration term related to surface fees commitment to pay (per square kilometer per annum).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_InitialExplorationTerm
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, as of the balance sheet date, of concession fees paid or incurred in connection with land exploration and development projects.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_OilAndGasConcessionFees
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The option to acquire paid working interest in the blocks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_OptionToAcquirePaidWorkingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The participating interest sold to others as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_ParticipatingInterestSSold
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

the remaining cost allocated to the block as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_RemainingCostAllocatedToBlocks
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	erhe_RepublicChadConcessionFeesAndOtherFinancialCommitmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The right to receive signature free bonus interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_RightToReceiveWorkingInterestSignatureFreeBonus
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of second additional exploration period related to surface fees commitment to pay (per square kilometer per annum).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_SecondAdditionalExplorationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total signature commitment under the production sharing contract as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_SignatureBonusCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The signature bonus commitment outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_SignatureBonusCommitmentOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The signature bonus commitment paid or incurred as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	erhe_SignatureBonusCommitmentPaidOrIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	erhe_SurfaceFeesPerSquareKilometerPerAnnumAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	erhe_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of expense provided in the period for legal costs incurred on or before the balance sheet date pertaining to resolved, pending or threatened litigation, including arbitration and mediation proceedings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LegalFees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A fee charged for services from professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. The term is often expanded to include other professions, for example, pharmacists charging to maintain a medicinal profile of a client or customer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.2(a),(b),(c),(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 225

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (k)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488370&loc=d3e13550-115849

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProfessionalFees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration